Platform for reducing machines



Jan. 16, 1951 A. B. BOOTH 253,231

PLATFORM FOR REDUCING MACHINES Filed Dec. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1951 A. B. BOOTH 2,538,231

PLATFORM FOR REDUCING MACHINES Filed Dec. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fla /3207". 4mm .5. 6007 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLATFORM FOR REDUCING MACHINES Anna B. Booth, Richmond, Ind.

Application December 2, 1948, Serial No. 62,989

This invention relates in improvements in machines of the type shown in the patent to J. P. Gardner, No. 1,305,595, June 3, 1919, Body Treatment Machines, and more particularly in Patent No. 1,769,616 issued to me July 1, 1930 for Massage Machines. These machines are for the purpose of massaging or treating various portions of the patients bodies and also their limbs, and in order to be used efiectively, it was necessary to provide a plurality of auxiliary supports such as stools, hassocks, and the like, for patients of different heights as well as for various massage operations. During the many years that such reducing machines have been in use, these hassocks and stools were always employed, but were objectionable as being difficult to arrange in machines and also very much in the way of the operator when not in use. Care had to be taken that they were disposed of when not in use in order to prevent accidents, and consequently special storage space had to be provided. The several stools used in this manner were of various heights ranging from 12 inches to 19 inches in height.

The present invention relatesto an improved foot rest or attachment for such machines which may be considered as a part of the machine proper and which will coact with the platform forming a part of the machine whereby the various treatments may be given in a more facile manner.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a foot rest or auxiliary support for machines of the character indicated which will be a part of the machine, and which is readily adjustable, to provide stronger, more stable and more easily adjusted supports necessary for the patient when giving the various treatments.

Other objects are to provide a simple device of this character which may be made at comparatively low cost and which is adapted for various machines now in use.

Other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a body treatment or massage machine showing my improved foot rest and one method of using the same;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the machine showing the foot rest in position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the foot rest; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the foot rest; and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. c.

As shown in these drawings, the frame II! of the machine supports the massaging devices and 1 Claim. (01. 12s -5s) the apparatus for driving and manipulating the same, which however, are all parts of the apparatus shown in previous patents. The lower or base portion of the frame has a plurality of projections or supports II for supporting the platform I2 on which the person taking treatment may stand or sit. This platform may be adjusted to different heights for diiferent size patients or for different treatments. Heretofore the operator was dependant upon this seat or platform and the various hassocks and stools in 'order to position the patient in the machine for different treatments.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a platform or auxiliary support I3 which may serve as a body support or as a foot rest and is made as a part of the machine and is readily adjustable. This rest comprises two bars I4 which are adapted to engage with the rails or projections I I as best shown in Fig. 2. The rear ends of these bars are slightly offset or bent upwardly and are provided with lugs or projections I5 for engagement with the rail or projection II above the one on which they are positioned. The

point of bending, as indicated at I6, forms a fulcrum so that the lugs or projections I5 will be forced upwardly when the rest is moved to engaging position. Two angle irons I I and I8 extend across between the outer ends with the bars I4 and are secured to the bars by welding, or the like. The board or foot rest proper I9 rests on the angle irons I1 and I8 and is secured thereto by screws 20. This board or platform preferably has a covering 2| of any suitable material such as fioor covering, linoleum, or the like, which may be cemented thereto and which is further held by means of a strip 22 extending around the platform and having a flange 23 projecting over the covering 2|.

When my improved platform or foot rest is to be used, the bars I4 are inserted between adjacent rails or projections I I and pushed inwardly until the lug or catch I5 engages with the upper rail as shown. At this time, the platform or board 2| will engage with the front of the frame Ill so that it will be held securely in any adjusted position and will project forwardly of the vertical supports of the frame I!) as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the patient is seated on the seat or platform I2 with her feet resting on the foot rest I3 which supports her in convenient position for shoulder, back and arm treatment. By adjusting the platform or seat 12 tovarious heights in the frame and also b adjusting the auxiliary support or foot rest j the operator.

l3, the patient may sit or stand on the platform 12 or may stand on the support I3 or may stand on both the platform l2 and the support 13 so that the various portions of the patients body and limbs may be presented to the massaging devices in order to give effective treatments as will be readily understood with those familiar with such apparatus.

It will be seen from this description that I provide a massaging machine with a foot rest or auxiliary support which is a part of the machine and which may be readily adjusted to facilitate treatments and which will provide a strong and stable support which may be easily adjusted by Furthermore, my improved auxiliary support or foot rest has been thoroughly tested and is being satisfactorily used by operators of these machines and the patients will have a feeling of securit while taking the treatments and the treatments may be more thorough due to the various adjustments which may be made with the foot rest which provides a rigi and substantial support for the patient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a body-treatment machine of the class described, a base comprising a pair of transverselyspaced vertical members adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and provided with two opposed sets of vertically-spaced horizontal rails; a 3

horizontal readily removable patient-supporting platform engageable with any selected opposed pair of rails, to adjust its height above said supporting surface; and a horizontal auxiliary support also readily removably engageable with another selected pair of said rails, such auxiliary support comprising a horizontal transversely extending foot-rest having portions engageable with said vertical base members to limit rearward movement of the auxiliary support, said foot-rest member also being provided with rearwardly projecting side bars insertable between two vertically adjacent rails, said side bars having bent rear portions providing fulcrums upon which the bars may pivot vertically, and the rear ends of said bar's being provided with projections engageable with the rails through said pivoting movements of the side bars to prevent unintentional displacement of the auxiliary support therefrom.

ANNA B. BOOTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,748 Haynes May 11, 1886 1,305,595 Gardner June 3, 1919 1,615,615 Cannon et al. Jan. 25, 1927 1,769,616 Booth July 1, 1930 

